Army Black Knights “Standout Sophs”
Last Saturday’s win over Air Force saw multiple members of Army’s Yearling/Sophomore Class, the Class of 2028, play key roles in the Black Knights’ 20-17 victory.
RB Briggs Bartosh had the first big run of the day for Army’s offense when he broke off a 38-yard run on a zone play. Kicker Dawson Jones went 2/2 on field goals and 2/2 on extra points including a 44-yard field goal to give Army a 10-3 halftime lead and of course, the 27-yard buzzer beater to give Army the win. Speaking of that game winning field goal, WR Brady Anderson beat the Air Force defensive back and caught a 42-yard deep post on a perfect ball from Cale Hellums that set up that game winning field goal from the 10-yard line. Earlier this season, GoBlackKnights.com ran a feature on DE Jack Bousom from Annapolis, MD. Bousom had another big game against Air Force including a key sack and 5 total tackles.
The progression of these “Super Sophs” along with the rest of the Class of 2028 as the 2025 season progresses bodes well for the Black Knights – not only for the rest of this season where they will undoubtedly see their roles become more important – but also for the next few years on the banks of the Hudson. It will be critical for the staff to continue to recruit these blossoming star players and keep them out of the portal in the Spring.
Let’s look at each of these 4 key “yearlings” in more detail.
- RB Briggs Bartosh
Briggs entered West Point in 2024 from Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo. His older brother is a senior offensive lineman. Briggs did not appear in any games in his plebe season.
He added some weight and transitioned from slotback to running back during spring camp and was #3 on the depth chart at the start of this season. He made his college debut in the Kansas State game, playing 6 snaps in that game, and he has played in a reserve role every game since. His best career game was against North Texas where he had 99 yards rushing including a 75 yard touchdown. His 22 snaps in the Air Force game were the most snaps he’s had on offense this season.
So far this season he has carried the ball 44 times for 246 yards (5.6 avg) with 1 touchdown. GBK loves Briggs’s elusiveness and “wiggle” in the hole. He also has some explosiveness that has already led to some big plays. We get the feeling Bartosh fits the mold of Cody Worley’s ideal running back perfectly. As opposed to the bigger, bulkier B-backs of old who mostly ran in the A- and B-gaps, Bartosh runs more like a hybrid slot/fullback who has power but can also break some long runs in space. Although we haven’t seen it yet, he can also probably present some difficulties for opposing defenses in the passing game.
- WR Brady Anderson
Anderson came to West Point from Edina Minnesota with a stopover season at USMAPS in 2023. He did not see any playing time as a plebe last season. He had his first career start against Tarleton State and has appeared in every game this season with 4 starts and 276 snaps on offense.
He has 10 receptions for 306 yards so far this season and leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns (2).
We like Brady’s hands and ability to get open and beat coverage deep as he did in the Air Force game. His route running is improving, and he also does a good job with 50/50 balls. He has good speed and quickness off the ball and out of breaks and is a competitor and a hard worker. Both Anderson and Bartosh are playing at a high level for sophomores and are continuing to improve. They both have big upside.
- DE Jack Bousom
Bousum came to West Point from St. Mary’s High in Annapolis, MD. He played the 2021 season at USMAPS and entered West Point in 2023. He did not see the field in his plebe season and was sidelined by injuries in 2024 as well. He has appeared in all 8 games this season with 7 starts and 377 defensive snaps.
So far this season, he has registered 21 total tackles, including 5.5 TFLs and 2.2 Sacks. He also has 1 Forced Fumble.
The 6’4”, 250 lb. DE has a long, lanky build with a frame that will continue to fill out as he matures. He’s big, strong, and quick, and has a “get off” you don’t often see in Army defensive linemen. He has the perfect build and skillset for a DE in Nate Woody’s defense. Keep in mind that this is his first year with any game reps but the more experience he gets the better he plays. He has a great work ethic and attitude. We would not be surprised to see Bousom play an important role in the trenches against Navy where line play is so important.
- K Dawson Jones
Jones came to West Point direct from Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, N.C in 2024. He appeared in 3 games as a plebe with 3 kickoffs totaling 247 yards, kicked one PAT, and scored on a 2 point conversion.
He took over as the regular place kicker at the start of this season and has appeared in all 8 games. He has converted 9 of his 14 field goal attempts, including 4 kicks of 40+ yards and a long of 45. He has also converted all 22 of his PAT attempts this season.
Jones has improved since a tough opening night against Tarleton where he went 2/4 and missed two clutch kicks. Since then, he has converted high pressure game winners against Kansas State and Air Force. Jones has a strong leg, and his accuracy continues to improve. We were able to sit down with Jones following practice on Tuesday to discuss the Air Force game, his maturation as the starting placekicker, and the rest of the season.
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